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How to feed an adult cat

An adult cat with a normal level activity, requires only a maintenance diet. A good-quality commercial cat food that is complete and balanced for maintenance or for all life stages is appropriate to feed to adult cats that are not pregnant or nursing.

Cats should be fed according to their individual needs, activity level, temperature, and body metabolism. The daily feeding guidelines on cat food bags are a good reference to identify the ideal weight of your cat according to his age. The daily amounts indicated in these guidelines will meet all your cat’s protein, fat, vitamins and minerals requirements.

Cats require a higher level of dietary protein and a different nutrient balance than dogs. Like kittens, mature cats require the addition of taurine to their diet while dogs do not. These unique dietary requirements are met by providing cats with complete and balanced cat foods, and for these reasons it is not recommended to feed adult cats with dog food. A cat can be fed a maintenance diet after it is one year of age. Maintenance diets are not appropriate for kittens, or pregnant or nursing females.

The amount of food needed will vary according to the nutrient density of the food and the individual cat. Even when all factors are the same, two cats of similar size, age, and activity may need different amounts of food simply because they have different metabolism rates. A cat's appetite and total food consumption will vary from day to day. Loss of appetite or reluctance to eat is not problems in adult cats unless they persist for several days or the cat shows symptoms of illness. If this happens, the cat should be examined by a veterinarian.

Here are some feeding recommendations to maintain your cat in a good body condition as an adult cat. The only concern for feeding your cat are providing excellent nutrition to promote health and prevent overweight. Just feed your companion animal with a high-quality maintenance formula.

The gestation period represents a high increase in nutritional requirements for your pet. During the three last weeks of gestation (of a total of nine weeks) the kittens will occupy a great amount of space in the mother’s abdominal cavity, thus she should be fed in small amounts several times a day. It is really important to feed a highly-digestible, nutrient-dense food during this phase. In lactation, the water and energy consumption are even more essential, since the nutritional requirements of the new mom can increase up to 3 or 4 times.

During this really demanding period, a high-digestible and energy-dense diet is required. Our 1st Choice – Growth Healthy Start can provide all the proteins and energy your pet will need to undergo her maternity period.

A reduced physical activity as a result of aging or just as a lifestyle, could lead your pet into overweight or even obesity. Overweight cats may have more health problems and a shorter life expectancy. Often a cat's weight can be reduced simply by eliminating table scraps and treats from the diet and by avoiding high-energy cat foods. Diets with moderate to low energy but which still contains high-quality ingredients (specially a good source of protein) should be selected.

Always concerned about the well-being of your pet, 1st Choice recommend the use of its Super Premium fat-reduced, Less Active and Senior, Chicken formula, specially designed to meet the needs of less active, aging adult cats and/or slightly overweight adult cats. Because cats tend to be nibblers or "occasional” eaters, they should have access to their food for several hours each day. And as with other animals, an available source of clean, fresh water is important for virtually all body functions, such as digestion, absorption, circulation, transporting nutrients, building tissues and helping to regulate body temperature.